cannibalize
/ˈkænɪbəˌlaɪz/
verb
- To eat the flesh of one's own species.
- The documentary showed how certain insects cannibalize weaker members of the colony.
- In extreme conditions, some animals will cannibalize their own young.
- Ancient texts describe how starving soldiers sometimes resorted to cannibalizing the dead.
- To take parts from one machine or vehicle to repair or build another, especially of the same type.
- The mechanic decided to cannibalize an old car for spare parts.
- They had to cannibalize two broken printers to make one working one.
- The team cannibalized the old computer to upgrade the new system.
- In business, to reduce sales of an existing product by introducing a new product from the same company that competes with it.
- The CEO decided not to launch the new drink because it would cannibalize the existing brand.
- Companies often worry that a cheaper alternative will cannibalize their main product line.
- The new budget model might cannibalize sales of the premium version.